Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time
Chapter 238: Joining The Caravan

Chapter 238: Joining The Caravan

The second thing Han Yu did was alter his appearance slightly.

Nothing major—just a bit of dark soot rubbed into his hair to dull its sheen, a few herbs mixed into a paste to give his skin a slightly weathered tone, and some deliberate exposure to sun to bring out the rugged look.

His scars, still healing in some places, did the rest of the work.

Anyone looking for the clean-cut disciple of Twin Leaf Peak would find only a tired, wiry hunter with too many bandages and a wary gaze.

Finally, he gathered his remaining coins—mostly silver, but he reserved two gold coins, just in case charm failed and currency had to do the convincing.

Seven days passed.

The next caravan arrived right on schedule, just as he’d heard.

It rolled into the town with the usual fanfare of stomping ox beasts and shouting porters. This caravan was slightly different. Less extravagant, more armed. The flags were the same, but the guards were more numerous—at least twenty, some of whom Han Yu could tell were at or near the peak of the Qi Refining Realm.

Their destination was the outpost at the Caldera, a new hub that needed supplies before moving back or heading deeper into the Plateau.

Han Yu hesitated for a bit.

Was it too reckless?

But then he looked at the guards laughing by the tavern, and the merchants barking orders without checking papers or identification, and he made his choice.

He approached one of the guards near the caravan’s rear. The man was sitting on a crate, lazily sharpening a spear.

Han Yu adopted a slightly hunched posture, one hand behind his back like a man unsure if he was welcome.

"Oi," he said with a casual drawl. "You need extra hands? I can fight a bit. Was a hunter ’round these parts for a year or two."

The guard didn’t even look up. "No space. Move along."

Han Yu smiled. "I can keep pace, won’t complain, and I don’t need food from your stores. Just lookin’ for better pay."

"No," the guard repeated, less patient this time.

Han Yu sighed dramatically, glanced left and right, then leaned in and slipped the man something under the edge of the crate.

The clink of two gold coins silenced the sharpening stone.

The guard finally looked up, one brow raised. "You’re persistent."

Han Yu shrugged. "I’d say desperate. Got mouths to feed." He flashed the most sincere half-smile he could muster. "Well, not really. But I do like eating. and drinking."

That got a laugh out of the guard.

The coins disappeared into the man’s sleeve like magic.

"Alright, alright. Can’t promise anything, but you’ve got spirit. What stage are you at?"

"Late stage Qi Refining," Han Yu replied confidently, rolling up his sleeves and releasing his aura to show the faint glow of condensed Spirit Qi flowing under his skin.

The guard gave a low whistle. "No wonder you look too clean to be some starving hunter. Alright. I’ll take you to the boss. He’s picky, so talk nice."

They walked through the line of crates and carts until they reached the center of the caravan, where a rotund man with an elaborate hat and a chain of jade beads was directing two attendants on what to pack where. He had the air of a man who liked being obeyed and the volume of a man who assumed he always was.

"This is the boss," the guard whispered. "Merchant Kuo. Good mood today, I think."

Merchant Kuo turned with a frown as they approached, then adjusted his expression into something neutral.

"What is it?" he asked.

The guard nudged Han Yu forward. "Another hand, sir. Good cultivation level. Reliable type."

Han Yu bowed. "Han Yi, sir. Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Was a hunter and herb-gatherer near the edge of the Plateau, but business has been bad. Looking for steadier coin."

Merchant Kuo sniffed. "You smell like beast dung."

Han Yu didn’t flinch. "Only the valuable kind, sir."

That got a snort.

Kuo glanced at the guard, then back at Han Yu. "Fine. We leave before dawn. Don’t fall behind. Any trouble, you’re on your own. Guards eat separately. No fighting among yourselves and no drinking on duty. You die, we don’t bury you."

"Understood," Han Yu said smoothly.

He was in.

"Any questions?" Merchant Kuo asked.

"Nothing particular sir, just want to ask about the route we’ll be taking. I’ve been to the plateau many times and it’s quite hard for a caravan this size to go through." He stated, trying to probe for information as well as trying to appear proactive.

"We have our own path. can’t be taken by normal cultivators, but with guard escort it should be fine." The Merchant replied.

"That’s good to hear sir." Han Yu replied with a smile.

That night, Han Yu returned to his inn one final time. He packed light—just enough rations, some clean bandages, his glaive on his back and a single dagger hidden in his boot. As he sat on the edge of his bed, he exhaled slowly, letting the weight of the coming days settle on his shoulders.

He was now part of a Mist Eye Sect caravan.

If things went well, he’d be able to gather intelligence straight from their outpost. If things went poorly... well, he’d have to figure that out when it happened.

"Who knew I’d be earnestly doing a mission like this. One full of risks and potential death, and yet... I gotta say its thrilling." Han Yu chuckled to himself.

The past Han Yu might have run at the mention of a mission rather than take the risk to fake his cultivation base and apply for it.

’Perhaps its my death that caused this change... or something else.’ Han Yu thought to himself.

It might have been his rising strength and the confidence in the strength as well that factored in, but for now, he smiled.

The mission was back on track.

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